Key facts
UNE unit code: AGSY300
*You are viewing the 2027 version of this unit which may be subject to change in future.
- Trimester 1 - On Campus
- Trimester 1 - Online
- Armidale Campus
- Yes
- Yes
- Yes
- 6
Unit information
Grazing occurs on more than 80% of Australian agricultural land. In this unit, you focus on the interactions within grazing systems and explore best-practice pasture and grazing management.
You examine how to optimise the grazing feedbase through species selection, pasture establishment, fertiliser application, weed control and ecological interactions within the pasture sward. You will then examine how to manage grazing livestock by considering animal intake, grazing management, supplementation programs and how livestock interact with the pasture sward. You put principles into practice through activities such as biomass assessment, feedbase design and pasture consultancy.
You explore diverse grazing environments, from intensively managed temperate pastures in southern Australia, to mixed farming systems in the wheat–sheep belt that use pastures in rotation, and the extensive rangelands of northern Australia shaped by seasonal extremes. You will also discuss global issues in grassland management, from New Zealand’s highly productive and intensively managed dairy pastures to the harsh conditions of the USA’s Chihuahuan Desert rangelands.
Offerings
For further information about UNE's teaching periods, please go to Principal Dates.
| Teaching period | Mode/location |
|---|---|
| Trimester 1 | On Campus, Armidale Campus |
| Trimester 1 | Online |
*Offering is subject to availability
Intensive schools
| Start | Finish | Duration | Attendance | Offerings | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| TBA | TBA | 3 days | Mandatory Intensive School | Trimester 1, Online | The intensive school is mandatory for online students. Dates to be advised. |
Enrolment rules
Notes
Please refer to the student handbook for current details on this unit.
Unit coordinator(s)
Learning outcomes
Upon completion of this unit, students will be able to:
- explain how the soil, plant and animal sub-systems interact within the broader grazing system to achieve sustainable pasture production;
- evaluate the seasonal productivity of the grazing feedbase, match feed supply with grazing animal requirements, and explain how limitations in the grazing feedbase can be overcome with the use of supplementation programs; and
- evaluate best practice management strategies and computer-based decision support tools that are used by the grazing industry and explain how these can be used to optimise the productivity and sustainability of various grazing systems.
Assessment information
Assessments are subject to change up to 8 weeks prior to the start of the teaching period in which you are undertaking the unit.
| Title | Must Complete | Weight | Offerings | Assessment Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Consultancy Briefing - Assurance Task | Yes | 20% | All offerings | A consultancy briefing which includes pre-submission of a 500-word summary plus follow-up 5-10 minute oral examination of proposed plan. The consultancy briefing oral examination will be offered face-to-face or online with supervision via webcam and screen sharing technology. To pass this unit, you must achieve a minimum cumulative total of 50% across Final Examination - Assurance Task, and Consultancy Briefing - Assurance Task, and meet all other passing requirements in the unit. |
| Final Examination - Assurance Task | Yes | 50% | All offerings | There is a supervised exam at the end of the teaching period in which you are enrolled. The exam will be offered online with supervision via webcam and screen sharing technology. Coordinated by UNE Exams Unit. To pass this unit, you must achieve a minimum cumulative total of 50% across Final Examination - Assurance Task, and Consultancy Briefing - Assurance Task, and meet all other passing requirements in the unit. |
| Online Quizzes | No | 10% | All offerings | A sequence of online quizzes relating to lecture material. No. Words: 250 each equivalent This assessment is non-mandatory. Students who do not submit this assessment will receive a mark of zero, which will be included in the calculation of the final unit grade at its stated weighting. |
| Practical | Yes | All offerings | The School of Environmental and Rural Science considers all practical/laboratory/tutorial activities as essential to student learning. Attendance and participation in all practical/laboratory/tutorial classes (sessions) is mandatory - exemptions will not be granted without supporting evidence. | |
| Scientific Report | Yes | 20% | All offerings | A scientific report describing experimental grazing data.
|
Learning resources
Textbooks are subject to change up to 8 weeks prior to the start of the teaching period in which you are undertaking the unit.
Note: Recommended material may be held in the University Library — purchase is optional.
Pasture Production and Management
ISBN: 9780909605858
Lovett, J.V. and Scott, J.M. (eds), Inkata Press 3rd ed. 1997
Text refers to: All offerings
Grazing Management
ISBN: 9786611027292
Vallentine, J.F., Academic Press 2nd ed. 2001
Text refers to: All offerings
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